Measuring Library Broadband Networks

The “Measuring Library Broadband Networks” (MLBN) project started in 2018 to explore how broadband measurement tools could serve U.S. libraries in meeting patrons’ internet needs. In the first year of research, the MLBN coalition hired Build With to run a one-day participatory design workshop to invite librarians and library IT professionals from across the country to help shape this work.

Without compromising the specific questions guiding MLBN’s work, we translated the niche nitty gritty of broadband measurement into an interactive curriculum that all library staff could engage with, reflect on, contribute and respond to. Together, we devised specific network tests for MLBN to run, and situated the research, and library broadband use itself, within important power, regional, financial, and cultural contexts, making sure that MLBN’s work didn’t just uphold library broadband as it currently functions, but also supports libraries as they adapt to

Participants and researchers left with new knowledge and a sense of community. As one participant noted at the end of the session, “I’m excited that my network's bigger. I mean, there's been a small group of people I talked to about this, but it's not very big…I’m so excited I have more people to call and turn to.”